frankencat
New member
Looking for some hum-cancelling pickups for one of my guitars. Please tell me about these three. Thanks 
Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
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Travis
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Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
The Vintage Rails and the Duckbuckers are the exact same pickups with different cosmetics. I've got a couple of Vintage Rails and they are great for some hum-cancelling stratty quack. They have great cleans, very sparkly. No experience with the classic staks, though.
The Vintage Rails and the Duckbuckers are the exact same pickups with different cosmetics. I've got a couple of Vintage Rails and they are great for some hum-cancelling stratty quack. They have great cleans, very sparkly. No experience with the classic staks, though.
frankencat
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
Looking for classic sounds without the noise. Wouldn't mind some extra output but not looking for hot pickups. I'm a Classic Rock guy all the way. I have used Hot Stacks before in Strats with success but I always find myself coming back to the classic singles like the SSL-2 and recently the SSL-6. What I am looking for is something right in between (SSL-3??) but in a hum cancelling pickup.
FWIW, I have heard that the Classic Stacks are a little "sterile" sounding and I have not had the chance to spend any real time with them so I don't know. I am ready to buy something, just looking at the options (for the 10000000th time, lol). TIA.
Looking for classic sounds without the noise. Wouldn't mind some extra output but not looking for hot pickups. I'm a Classic Rock guy all the way. I have used Hot Stacks before in Strats with success but I always find myself coming back to the classic singles like the SSL-2 and recently the SSL-6. What I am looking for is something right in between (SSL-3??) but in a hum cancelling pickup.
FWIW, I have heard that the Classic Stacks are a little "sterile" sounding and I have not had the chance to spend any real time with them so I don't know. I am ready to buy something, just looking at the options (for the 10000000th time, lol). TIA.
frankencat
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
btt
btt
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
I don't have the pickups you mention, but I've got a Squire strat fitted with Hot Stacks in the neck and middle, and a Hot Rails at the bridge. Love the sounds I get.
The Hot rails is aggressive and tight when I want it to be, and the hot stacks are really clear (even under heavy distortion) and sound great. I love that guitar now :dance:
I don't have the pickups you mention, but I've got a Squire strat fitted with Hot Stacks in the neck and middle, and a Hot Rails at the bridge. Love the sounds I get.
The Hot rails is aggressive and tight when I want it to be, and the hot stacks are really clear (even under heavy distortion) and sound great. I love that guitar now :dance:
fusion101
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
If u want noisless pickups i stronglyy strongly suggest going here, Kinman pickups
by the way check out there clips
If u want noisless pickups i stronglyy strongly suggest going here, Kinman pickups
by the way check out there clips
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
i own a duckbucker and love its tone ... if i knew then what i know now, i'd get a Vintage Rails instead, just 'cus the rails guard against volume drop-off when you bend the string away from the tiny screw pole pieces on the duck
cheers
t4d
i own a duckbucker and love its tone ... if i knew then what i know now, i'd get a Vintage Rails instead, just 'cus the rails guard against volume drop-off when you bend the string away from the tiny screw pole pieces on the duck
cheers
t4d
frankencat
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
Vintage Rails it is then BTW, this is for an old Charvel Model 6.
Vintage Rails it is then
BTW, this is for an old Charvel Model 6.
frankencat
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
Thanks Travis. I think I am going to stick a JB in the bridge. I have a DD HB102 in there now and it sounds pretty good so I figure it's close. I also have a PG that I may try in it. I have a Custom in my other Model 6 but it's a little muddy and very compressed sounding in that guitar. Better in a bolt-on guitar IMHO.
Thanks Travis. I think I am going to stick a JB in the bridge. I have a DD HB102 in there now and it sounds pretty good so I figure it's close. I also have a PG that I may try in it. I have a Custom in my other Model 6 but it's a little muddy and very compressed sounding in that guitar. Better in a bolt-on guitar IMHO.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
I wouldn't call the Classic Stack sterile, but it has a touch of mids that makes it a little warmer than a traditional Strat single, but not as warm as the Hot Stack. The VRs and Ducks (same pickup) are quite a bit brighter than the Classic Stacks and have less output to my ears. They sound killer when played in groups or when combined with pickups that have simular output but I find them a little timid next to something like a Hot Rail or a JB. Some guys love the tone of the VR next to a hotter pickup but I prefer a little more output and girth next to something like a JB.
The Classic Stack would be cool next to the JB. I receintly loaded a JB with a series/parallel switch into my Strat with a Hot stack in the middle and a lil59 in the neck. The JB/Hot Stack combination is very nice if not somewhat thicker than a traditional Strat #4 position and when the JB is in parallel the tone brightens up somewhat and gets nice and chimey.
As much as I love the VRs in some applications I'd have to suggest a Classic Stack or a Hot Stack for placement next to the JB. If you can put a push/pull pot in that guitar for series/parallel on the JB you'll dig it even more.
I wouldn't call the Classic Stack sterile, but it has a touch of mids that makes it a little warmer than a traditional Strat single, but not as warm as the Hot Stack. The VRs and Ducks (same pickup) are quite a bit brighter than the Classic Stacks and have less output to my ears. They sound killer when played in groups or when combined with pickups that have simular output but I find them a little timid next to something like a Hot Rail or a JB. Some guys love the tone of the VR next to a hotter pickup but I prefer a little more output and girth next to something like a JB.
The Classic Stack would be cool next to the JB. I receintly loaded a JB with a series/parallel switch into my Strat with a Hot stack in the middle and a lil59 in the neck. The JB/Hot Stack combination is very nice if not somewhat thicker than a traditional Strat #4 position and when the JB is in parallel the tone brightens up somewhat and gets nice and chimey.
As much as I love the VRs in some applications I'd have to suggest a Classic Stack or a Hot Stack for placement next to the JB. If you can put a push/pull pot in that guitar for series/parallel on the JB you'll dig it even more.
midnite_man
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
I was wondering what a JB wired like that would sound like in a Strat. I have a Strat-shaped mahogany Schecter with the JB/Jazz set, and both pickups are wired series/parallel....the JB sounds excellent as a single coil Strat sound and cuts through with no problems, as the Jazz sounds alot like a Strat single coil as well. Must be the Alnico magnets they put in those pups.
Cool info, Robert!
....Bob
Robert S. said:
I was wondering what a JB wired like that would sound like in a Strat. I have a Strat-shaped mahogany Schecter with the JB/Jazz set, and both pickups are wired series/parallel....the JB sounds excellent as a single coil Strat sound and cuts through with no problems, as the Jazz sounds alot like a Strat single coil as well. Must be the Alnico magnets they put in those pups.
Cool info, Robert!
....Bob
frankencat
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
Cool. I actually like the bridge pickup to be a little hotter than the others so that sounds like it will work. Now, when you say that the VR is bright - is it "shrill" or thin sounding or bright like say a vintage single coil (SSL-2/3)? I am looking for something in the SSL-3 territory but hum cancelling. Am I going to be close?
P.S. I have used Hot Stacks, Hot Rails, Cool Rails before but have never used the Classic Stacks or the Vintage Rails.
Thanks -Frank
Cool. I actually like the bridge pickup to be a little hotter than the others so that sounds like it will work. Now, when you say that the VR is bright - is it "shrill" or thin sounding or bright like say a vintage single coil (SSL-2/3)? I am looking for something in the SSL-3 territory but hum cancelling. Am I going to be close?
P.S. I have used Hot Stacks, Hot Rails, Cool Rails before but have never used the Classic Stacks or the Vintage Rails.
Thanks -Frank
Travis
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
I've never though of the VR as being shrill. I've got a pair in my Hamer Mirage (mahogany neck.body with a flamed koa top). Like I said before, they do an amazing sparkly clean. I don't use them much under gain because I tend to go for more metal tones than bluesy. But, if I do want bluesy tones, I go with the Vintage Rails or 59s on their respective Hamers.
I've never though of the VR as being shrill. I've got a pair in my Hamer Mirage (mahogany neck.body with a flamed koa top). Like I said before, they do an amazing sparkly clean. I don't use them much under gain because I tend to go for more metal tones than bluesy. But, if I do want bluesy tones, I go with the Vintage Rails or 59s on their respective Hamers.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
The VR is definately not shrill and it is very Strat single coil sounding. If you are looking for something in the SSL range tonally the VR is probably the way to go. The VRs were even used in some PRS guitars and those guys make their own pickups. The guys at PRS think that the VRs are worthy and I have to agree. I just like a little more mids and oomph in my guitars, especially next to humbuckers. Sounds like the VR will work for you.
The VR is definately not shrill and it is very Strat single coil sounding. If you are looking for something in the SSL range tonally the VR is probably the way to go. The VRs were even used in some PRS guitars and those guys make their own pickups. The guys at PRS think that the VRs are worthy and I have to agree. I just like a little more mids and oomph in my guitars, especially next to humbuckers. Sounds like the VR will work for you.
Quencho092
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
i never found noise to be a major problem really. I switched from the new samarium cobalt noiseless to duncan surfers and i love the surfers. With the guitarnuts.com wiring on it, i get almost no noise anyway, except for the 60 cycle which i rotate my body to get rid of, lol!
I'll be selling my pickguard with the samarium cobalts pretty soon if you're interested. It has a very sweet, soft tone, and it has S-1 switching. Quacks wondrously too.
i never found noise to be a major problem really. I switched from the new samarium cobalt noiseless to duncan surfers and i love the surfers. With the guitarnuts.com wiring on it, i get almost no noise anyway, except for the 60 cycle which i rotate my body to get rid of, lol!
I'll be selling my pickguard with the samarium cobalts pretty soon if you're interested. It has a very sweet, soft tone, and it has S-1 switching. Quacks wondrously too.
Eric Dahlberg
New member
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
Could you let me know when that pickguard & assembly is ready for sale?
Could you let me know when that pickguard & assembly is ready for sale?
P
pookey
Guest
Re: Classic Stack vs. Vintage Rails vs. Duckbuckers
I'm also looking for a single coil sound in my strat H-S-S. I have the 59 full size in the bridge. I tried a duckbucker in the neck and the output was significantly less than the bridge humbucker. Will the Vintage Rails have more output than the duckbucker?
I'm also looking for a single coil sound in my strat H-S-S. I have the 59 full size in the bridge. I tried a duckbucker in the neck and the output was significantly less than the bridge humbucker. Will the Vintage Rails have more output than the duckbucker?
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